The U.S. Is Taking The Fight To The New World Screwworm

The New World Screwworm has the American livestock industry, and the USDA on alert.

“The NWS is a scourge that is making its way from Latin America up through Mexico, and if it hits America, it is going to be absolutely devastating to our cattle industry at the top of the list," said Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins.  "And frankly, to a lot of our industries.”

So, what’s the United States doing?

In addition to restrictions on Mexican live cattle imports, which will be reevaluated on a 30-day basis, the USDA is investing in an existing fruit fly production facility in Mexico.  The Department of Ag says once operational, the renovated facility will produce between 60 to 100 million additional New World Screwworm flies weekly.  The sterile insect technique as a form of eradication and population control is currently being used in a similar facility in Panama.

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